Mum’s fury after sick con woman stole photo of terminally ill son, 7, and pretended he was her own boy for fake cancer appeal

A SICK con woman used a photo of a little boy who died from cancer to beg for donations online.

The family of Braiden Prescott were disgusted to discover that Megan Steffan was posting pictures of him in his final weeks on Whatsapp after he passed away and asking strangers to donate things to her.

Braiden, from Wigan, was just two years old when he was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma - and despite treatment including chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy and immunotherapy in America, his cancer returned for the third time at the end of last year.

He passed away age seven in September after a five-year battle with the disease.

Cruel Steffan pretended that Braiden was her son, naming him Blake and pleading with well-wishers to "send anything" that could help.

In the posts she wrote: “There’s nothing worse than watching your baby fight for their life. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

Another one added: “It’s def hard. He usually sits on my lap and lets me hold him, today he said he’s a big boy and can do it himself.”

Braiden's appalled mum Stephanie contacted her when she found out that images of her ill son were being used online.

Steffan admitted to using the photographs to gain sympathy and apologised, saying she "didn't know the story" behind the photos.

She said: "“I wish I’d looked into it because this never would have happened. I hit rock bottom the other day, my husband just lost his job and with Christmas right around the corner we had no way to make rent or pay bills and I guess I just wanted sympathy.

"It was a pretty pathetic way of doing it and I regret it to the full extent.”

Mum-of-three Stephanie says what she did was "unforgivable", as the family face a tough first Christmas without Braiden.

She said: "I couldn’t believe that someone could do something like this. She obviously knows who Braiden is because she’s messaged me through his fundraising page.
“There is just no excuse for what she’s done. If only she knew what it was like to go through cancer.

“She wants me to put something on Braiden’s page to stop people commenting about it and says she’s had death threats and she’s scared, but I’ve told her she’s made her bed and now she’s got to lie in it.”

Family friend Mindy Johnstone, who helped plan a special seventh birthday party for Braiden, said she was "devastated" when she heard about what Steffan had done.

She said: “Steph and Wayne have been through so much this year and with it being so close to Christmas and it being their first without Braiden, this is the last thing they need.
“I can’t understand anyone pretending it’s their son who has cancer to get gifts and cards as they are having a hard time money wise.

"Who stoops that low?”

Grieving mum Stephanie faces a heartbreaking first Christmas without her little boy.

On December 1 she visited his grave to gift him an advent calendar, leaving chocolate, toys and a Christmas tree for him.

Earlier this week Tyler, six, and Kody, three, were treated to gifts 'from Braiden' as a family friend arranged for a surprise visit from an elf.

The youngsters were told that Braiden is looking over them and is with the angels helping Santa get presents ready for boys and girls.

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